The GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY

“Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the plant Melaleuca Alternifolia and is native to Australia. With it’s antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and antiseptic properties, tea tree oil makes a great all-natural household cleaner.”

All-Purpose Cleaner: Use 15 drops of tea tree oil to 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Use on counter tops or for general cleaning.

Mold Killer: Combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake to blend. Spray on mold and don’t rinse.

Laundry Disinfectant: Add one teaspoon of tea tree oil per load to disinfect laundry such as diapers or to prevent transmission of fungal infections.

Do you have anyone in your home that suffers from allergies? My little one and I have been fighting allergy bugs for the for the past couple of weeks. I found this information, courtesy of Clean Home Journal, and thought I’d share. Even allergies are not reeking havoc in your life, you may still want to freshen up your home a bit.

The average home can have allergens* from dust mites to pet dander and pollen**. While you can’t control the world outside your home, you can clean away allergens inside your home.

The Kitchen

* Appliances and Utensils
Kitchen appliances, like blenders, mixing bowls and cooking utensils can accumulate dust, dirt and allergens if they are not cleaned regularly. Make sure to wash, wipe and rinse them off with dish soap at least once a week.

* Cabinets and Counters
Pay just as much attention to your kitchen cabinets as you do your counters. Cabinets often go ignored because more attention is given to surfaces, such as counters and stove tops, which tend to accumulate visible cooking residue. Cabinets are just as likely to get dusty and dirty, so don’t forget to wipe them down!

The Living Room & Bedroom

* Ceiling Fans and Crown Molding
It’s easy to forget to dust the ceiling. However, a lot of allergens from dust and dust mites collect on ceiling fans and the nooks of crown molding. To effectively combat these hard-to-reach areas, use a Swiffer Dusters® with Extendable Handle. It traps and locks household allergens* instead of spreading them around like traditional feather dusters.

* Pillows and Blankets
Soft surfaces like decorative pillows and blankets on the bed and couch often go unwashed, and can pack on the dirt, dust and allergens. Febreze® Allergen Reducer™ is a great tool to use to freshen fabrics because it reduces up to 75% of allergens* that can become airborne. Such allergens can also hide in other soft surfaces such as carpets, curtains, comforters and pet beds.

Bathroom

* Rugs and Shower Curtains
You might not see them, but hair and dust balls build up on soft surfaces like bath rugs and shower curtains. When cleaning the bathroom, give them a scrub the same as you would your bathtub, toilet or sink. First, take the rug and shower curtain outside and beat or shake thoroughly to get rid of loose particles. Then read the label to see if you can wash them in hot water to remove any remaining allergens.

* Trash Cans
Trashcans in the bathroom are usually, “out of sight, out of mind,” and may not be taken out as often as they should be. A good rule of thumb: take out the bathroom trash whenever you take out the garbage in the kitchen.

Incorporate these tips into your cleaning routine to help reduce in-home allergens in the spring and all-year round.

*Common household allergens from cats, dogs, and dust mites. Use Swiffer Dusters to reduce allergens while you dust from hard surfaces. Use Febreze Allergen Reducer to reduce allergens that can become airborne from fabrics.